John Morgan Discusses Medical Marijuana on 'Florida Matters' Radio Program

Tuesday night, firm founder John Morgan
appeared on WUSF radio show “Florida Matters” to discuss the
campaign to legalize medical marijuana in Florida.

In addition to Morgan, the panel of guests included medical marijuana
opponent Dr. Kevin Sabet of the Drug Policy Institute at the University
of Florida College of Medicine and Charlie Brown, a city councilman from
Denver, CO. Host Carson Cooper led the discussion that touched on, among
other topics, the pros of and possible fallout from legalizing and
regulating medical marijuana and the dangers of FDA-backed use of
prescription drugs like OxyContin. The panel also discussed
discrepancies between state and federal marijuana laws and the rift
medical cannabis has created among American voters.

Morgan, who was live in studio for the discussion, touched on, among
other subjects, why a trial attorney in Orlando would get involved with
United For Care and back a polarizing issue such as medical
marijuana.

“Well, there’s really nothing in it for me,” Morgan told Cooper. “I
believe that this is an area of what I call political philanthropy,
where you see tens of thousands of people suffering for no reason and
you think, ‘What could I do to make a difference?’”

Cooper later brought up Morgan’s personal experience of seeing medicinal
marijuana help his father more than 20 decades ago as he lost his battle
with esophageal cancer and COPD, as well as his brother, Tim, who was
battling neck cancer.

“He was debilitated, he was anxious, he had zero appetite, he was
nauseated,” Morgan remembered of his father. Ramon Morgan, who John has
previously described as “the most anti-drug guy in the world,” was able
to “lead his last days with some dignity and some peace once he turned
to medical marijuana,” Morgan said.

Dr. Sabet expressed his disagreement with the proposed medical marijuana
legalization amendment in Florida. He fears that a “pill mill effect”
will be created due to the number of dispensaries that would pop up
should the law be passed in 2014. Though Sabet challenged his stance on
the issue by saying the medical marijuana issue should only be handled
by federal agencies like the American Medical Association and the FDA,
Morgan spoke up on behalf of voters who support action sooner rather
than later.

“What are we going to do, wait another 30 years for FDA approval while
[medicinal marijuana] is sitting out there in your own backyard?”
Morgan asked.

Brown, whose state has been dealing with the effects of the legalization
of medical and recreational marijuana for some time, expressed his
disfavor for going the “initiative route” with the proposed amendment.
He believes that adding an amendment would “muddy” Florida’s
constitution as it did Colorado’s. Morgan countered, saying that if
Florida’s House and Senate won’t do anything, the state’s voters and
United For Care’s petition will.

“The reason we’ve had to go the initiative route is there were bills put
before the Florida House and Florida Senate that couldn’t even get
testimony, couldn’t even get one meeting where someone could explain the
benefits,” Morgan answered. “And so there was a frustration from victims
who are suffering.”

And what about fears that marijuana use will become rampant in Florida
should the medical cannabis amendment be passed?

“Here’s the thing, once this is passed—and it’s going to be passed—the
Florida house, the Florida Senate and our governor, who are all very
conservative bodies led by republicans, are going to regulate this,”
Morgan said. “This is not going to be a deal where people are going to
do whatever they way to do. Just because this passes does not mean it’s
going to be a free for all.”

To those who allege there’s an ulterior motive for Morgan’s support of
the legalization of medical marijuana as a push for attorney Charlie
Crist’s speculative gubernatorial run next year, Morgan says for himself
and those the plant would help, politics have nothing to do with it.

“One thing we know about [patients with] chronic illness and terminal
illness, they don’t pick parties,” Morgan said. “When you are at that
last stage of death, you’re not thinking about politics. It has to do
with what I’ve seen up close and personal. I know it works. I know tens
of thousands of people today would benefit, millions tomorrow.”

The full discussion on the legalization of medical marijuana can be
streamed on WUSF’s website.

To join campaign to legalize medical marijuana in Florida, please sign
United For Care and People United for Medical Marijuana’s online
petition.